Xinghuacun Fenjiu representatives introduce the brand's history and culture at the Toronto tasting event. [Photo by Wen Zhaoyan for China Daily]

Famed white liquor producer Xinghuacun Fenjiu from China's Shanxi province, hosted a tasting event in Toronto, Canada earlier this month, giving guests an opportunity to taste authentic white liquor, or baijiu, varieties from China.

Dozens of local guests, including politicians, business leaders and residents, attended the event.

While tasting genuine baijiu varieties, the guests were offered Fenjiu-based cocktails tailored to the taste of the locals.

They said they were glad to learn about the brand's long history and associated culture on this occasion.

At the event, a representative from Xinghuacun Fenjiu introduced the centuries-old brand to guests in both English and Chinese.

He said that local archaeological discoveries show that the production of the alcoholic beverage in the township of Xinghuacun in the Shanxi city of Fenyang, where Xinghuacun Fenjiu is based, dates back more than 6,000 years.

Because of the discoveries, researchers said Xinghuacun might be the origin of China's alcoholic beverage industry.

He added that Xinghuacun Fenjiu is one of the pioneering Chinese baijiu companies to go global.

After it won a gold prize at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, the United States, in 1915, Fenjiu-branded white liquor began to attract the attention of international buyers. Since then, several brands, including Fenjiu and Zhuyeqing, have become popular in overseas markets. The brands were first sold to Southeast Asia and East Asia and then to Europe and North America that includes Canada.

Volume export of Fenjiu-branded liquor to the Canadian market began in 1997. It first won popularity in the Canadian-Chinese community and was gradually accepted by the wider population in the following years.

Xinghuacun Fenjiu began to operate a liquor chateau in Canada in 2018, using local ingredients like sorghum and barley to make baijiu, which was sold locally.

The company has hosted a number of promotional events in Canada in recent years. The latest was an art and charity evening held in Toronto in January, involving an exhibition of paintings and donations to the local community.

Wu Jia contributed to this story.